How Much Do Optometrists Earn?
- The median salary of a certain type of job signifies the amount earned by the worker in the middle of the pay scale for that job. Medians are often used in place of averaging because averages can give skewed results because of outliers such as very high income earners. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the "median annual wages of salaried optometrists were $96,320 in May 2008" and "the middle 50 percent earned between $70,140 and $125,460."
- Median salary gives a general baseline idea of the earning potential of a career, but many careers have a wide spread of earning potential, especially at the high end. According to the BLS, self-employed optometrists earned an average annual income of $175,329 in 2007. This number is almost double that of the median salary earned by all optometrists, highlighting the potential benefits of self-employment. Self-employed individuals also enjoy more flexibility in terms of vacation and work schedule, but they must provide their own benefits.
- While optometrists can earn high salaries, becoming an optometrist requires a significant investment of time and money. According to the BLS, becoming an optometrist requires a "four-year program at an accredited school of optometry, preceded by at least three years of preoptometric study at an accredited college or university." The BLS states that schools of optometry are very selective, admitting only about a third of applicants. Graduating from a top school with good grades improves earning potential.
- Besides high earning potential, optometrists enjoy other notable benefits. The work environment of eye clinics is typically clean, and optometrists often work standard hours, unlike other types of health care workers who put in odd hours. According to the BLS, "Employment of optometrists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2018," in part due to the aging of the baby boomer generation.
